Cultural Olympiad

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:56:36 +0100

Another gorgeous Sunday, the first of the school holidays and the boys spent a few hours with us while Vicki and Paul went to Exeter to pick up Vicki’s new bike to work scheme bike. It just happens to be Westival, Taunton’s emerging arts festival, this weekend and there’s been a lot going on around the theatre.

First bunting decorating...

Then music making...

Then relaxing...

The new Somerset Square gets the thumbs up from us.

Chuckle of the day - James. “Can I have some more crayon Grandma?” He was referring to his breakfast croissant.

It’s Old Hat

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 19:54:14 +0100

We’ve had a fantastic day out with Vicki and the boys. On a whim we went to a steam rally in the depths of Somerset. It was every (big and small) boy’s dream excursion. There were traction engines, large and miniature, wild west demonstrations, classic cars and motorbikes, US and British army vehicles and much much more.

It’s hard to say what William and James enjoyed more - the dodgems, the log cutting or Grandpa’s attempt at 4x4 cross country but judging by the squeals of delight and Vicki’s threat to cry if he turned the car over, I think the latter pipped the other activities and exhibits at the post - and he didn’t charge a penny.

For more photos of our day out, click here.

Responding to Requests

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 08:26:54 +0100

I’ve been otherwise engaged since the celebration. With the exception of a long weekend with friends, there’s been nothing more exciting than pressure of work and other commitments I can assure you, but it has meant an unusual lull in posts.

A number of GG followers have told me they’ve been looking out for photos of our tea party so here they are.

M&S made the cake and Flying Chefs provided the lovely tea.

Successful Caravanning Trial

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:43:37 +0100

Two years in succession we spent our summer holiday in Spetses with our friends from Hill Farmhouse; the couple who designed our special 40th Anniversary card. Next year we would like to repay them with a caravan trip to France.

It wouldn’t be Mimosa Villa but with its awning annex, our second home on wheels has plenty of room and most mod cons.

Despite the sea mist we’ve become accustomed to, which creeps up the coombe and comes to rest on the hill and which hung around all Saturday, we really enjoyed the weekend’s caravane pour quatre personnes trial.

40h!

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 20:58:41 +0100

Since returning home from Cornwall, I logged on to the met office website more often than usual. What I saw bothered me. Up to and including Saturday, the weather was set fair and warm but a change looked inevitable on Sunday. Sunday was the day we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary and ever the optimist, I planned a garden party - or to be precise a tea party in the Square. I was on tenter hooks all week but in the end it drizzled for less than ten minutes and Lyndon’s gazebo provided shelter for our 60 guests.

Although we insisted there should be no presents, the family presented us with a Gordon Ramsay cookbook. I lifted it aloft as a signal to friends that as per to its title, they might expect to be invited to supper. But that wasn’t all... the girls encouraged me to open the book... it had to be signed...

Oh my goodness, the family have organised a night at Claridges with dinner in Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant. What a lovely surprise!

And our good, very talented friends from Hill Farmhouse gave us a bespoke card to commemorate the occasion.